Christmas 2014

Christmas time is always a wonderful time with kids.  I think my boys favorite Christmas tradition is the advent calendar.  Each of the 24 days before Christmas they get to open a little door on a house and they get a surprise.  Sometimes it's candy or a small toy but sometimes the object doesn't fit in the little door and so we leave them a clue where to find their treat in the house.

We got to attend Julian's school Christmas concert, which was lots of fun.  It was so cute to see him up on the stage singing Away in a Manger.

We spent an evening walking around "The Grotto" here in Portland.  It's a Catholic church and botanical garden that they decorate for Christmas.  It was so pretty with all the lights and we actually had pretty good weather...at least it wasn't raining.

Christmas Eve we spent at the Doxey's house.  Their tradition is to order Chinese Food and play games on Christmas Eve.  We also do "grab bags" where each person has to do a talent of some sort and then they get to pick a random paper bag with a surprise inside.  Julian always seems to manage to grab the bag with the $20 bill:)

Christmas Day started very early for us.  The boys woke up around 6:30 AM even though we told them the night before we weren't going to do anything until at least 8:00.  I guess Christmas morning is just too exciting to stay in bed:)

Julian at his Christmas concert

On the stage with the other kindergarten classes

The lights at "The Grotto"

I love this picture of Julian in front of the nativity scene

Julian had fun feeding the sheep and goats...

...I liked the alpacas:)

Playing games with the Doxey's on Christmas Eve

The tree with all the gifts on Christmas Eve.  Hyrum and I always wait until Christmas Eve to put gifts under the tree.  I think it's so much more exciting for the kids to wake up and see all the gifts on Christmas morning!

Merry Christmas breakfast table

Let the unwrapping begin!!!

Hyrum worked really hard on these little shelves for the boys.  They are perfect for storing all their little collections.

Emerson, Julian and Townsend show off their Christmas ornaments from Grandma and Grandpa Johnson.

Overall it was a very fun day and I think the boys were all happy with what they got.  Emerson really liked his hot wheels flying car, Julian liked his remote control lego train set, and Townsend liked his "Halo" mini figurines.